Durham County will use a combination of recycled tyres and plastic waste to create more long-lasting and environmentally friendly road surfaces.
Concrete and cement (水泥) are responsible for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions (排放) globally and with a lot of the cement produced today used for the surfacing of roads, many organizations are looking for alternative materials that are less costly to the environment.
In a bid to reduce their carbon foot print, Durham has announced that they will be working with the road surfacing builder, Rainton Construction, to create roads that will be resurfaced with plastic and tyre waste.
A typical single truck load of the surfacing material amounts to 1, 064 plastic bags and 51 car tyres. Rubber from tyres was previously an un-recyclable material, but Rainton Construction will combine waste from the tyre recycling process, with plastic and tarmac (柏油路) to create a more long-lasting road surface.
The combination of the rubber and the plastic improves the performance of the road. The materials provide a water-resistance surface that reduces the damage caused by freezing weather and is less likely to break and change shapes in hot weather. The new surface is also expected to last longer than traditional materials and when the road surface needs replacing, the materials can be reprocessed and used again.
Managing director of Rainton Constructions, David Elliot said, “It is great for us as a business to have a partner like Durham County who are as enthusiastic as we are about the re-use of end of life wastes, that would normally be got rid of. We have and will continue to spend money on the development of these products in order to maximize our findings and obtain the best value both economically (经济上) and environmentally.”
In related news, researchers at the University of the West of England, Bristol, stated that recycled waste material could play a major role in the construction of roads in Europe, bringing both environmental and economic benefits.
【小题1】What does the author think of the new road surface?| A．It’s very easy to make. | B．It’s made of concrete and cement. |
| C．It’s less costly to the environment. | D．It’s more likely to break in hot weather. |
| A．The materials of the new road surface. | B．The benefits of the new road surface. |
| C．How to make the new road surface. | D．Why to make the new road surface. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Uninterested. | C．Favorable. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．Tech & Science. | B．Entertainment. | C．Art & Culture. | D．Business. |
